Web 2 & Social Networks

Web 2.0 and Social Network sites represent a new dynamic in communication for web design.

Web 2.0 is a trend that aims to facilitate creativity, information sharing, and collaboration among users.

Customers can now help build relationships on your site(s) and you can interact with the viewers on social networks sites like YouTube, FaceBook and MySpace.

Travel companies can now leverage social networking sites and apply Web 2.0 services to their own sites.

Social Networks

There are:

• Large social networks like MySpace, YouTube and FaceBook.
• Specialty sites like Flickr or Picasa that specialize in photography
• Travel related networks like TravelTube, TripAdvisor, or Cruise Critic

These offer an aray of networking services for the viewer to interact with friends and for companies to market to them.

Some Examples:

• Sunset Resorts
  
• Club Med here is a group on Flickr started by 1 customer that blossomed into other visitors, ( of different languages) sharing what they like, photography and Club Med.

Using Web 2.0

Travel Companies now have the power to own and control their own content instead of relying on the large social networks for offering interactions with their customers and viewers.

A good example is Nesbit They have a good email service and a photo contest for their customers to keeps customers coming back again and again.

Other examples:

• Photo Gallery
• Blog
• Contests
• RSVP & group registration
• Wedding plans & album blog
• Updates to services, property or product
• Special deals

Using a combination of social Networking sites and web 2.0 services on should be part of every travel marketing plan.